Colorado Flooding: Myths Debunked

KUSA - During major events, rumors and misinformation run rampant.
Here are a few of the claims about the Colorado floods that have been
swirling around the Internet:

CLAIM: WOMAN HOLDING TOWN HOSTAGE?

A viral Facebook post is claiming residents are trapped by floodwater
because a woman will not unlock a gate on her property so people can
escape.

The Larimer County Sheriff's Office says that's not true - that no one
is stranded on Storm Mountain - and that the woman has agreed to let
anyone down through her property - she just doesn't want them going back
up.

CLAIM: FEMA BANS DRONES?

Perhaps you've heard the one about FEMA banning the use of a drone to
assist rescuers in Boulder County. That claim showed up on a
conservative website. FEMA and Boulder County say it's bunk.

The county emergency manager says he's shocked the drone operator -
Falcon UAV - is making that claim. He says local emergency managers
grounded the drone out of concern that it could collide with helicopters
being used to evacuate residents.

CLAIM: FRACKING DISASTER LOOMING?

A liberal website picked up a blogger's claim that the news media are
covering up a looming environmental disaster in Northern Colorado from
the spillage of fracking fluids.

The industry says every well has been shut, and fracking isn't a concern.

The industry promised if there's a spill, it will disclose to emergency workers which chemicals are involved.

CLAIM: ROCKY FLATS CONTAMINATION?

There have been questions about whether contamination from Rocky Flats could be stirred up by the flooding.

The site manager says they lost two water monitoring gauges but they've
been replaced, and nothing out of the ordinary has been seen there -
except more wildlife than usual.